Dental ligature applicator



Nov. 17, 1931. A. T. s. YATES 1,332,173

DENTAL LIGATURE APPLICATOR Filed Jan. 10.. 1929 fiii o (0 o 0 by (261% 020 (700 Q20 7 v E 6 2 =7 m N y 4 gnaw-M1 01 amine/1 Patented Nov. 17, 1931 so 'TATES UN E PATENT orrics;

ALANSON r. s. YATES,- or DULUTH, MINNESOTA DENTAL LIGATURE APPLICATOR- Application fil ed January 10, 1929. Serial No. 331,487.

My invention relates to instruments for use 7 in maintaining sanitary conditions of the human mouth and has special reference to a device for applying a ligature intermediate of the teeth for cleansing same; the principal object being to provide amore convenient and ings, forming part of this application, and

wherein like reference characters indicate like parts: I

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of my improved applicator with the ligature omitted therefrom;

Figure 2 is a front end elevation of the applicator with the ligature applied;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the applicator with the ligature omitted; and

Figure l is a plan view, opposite to that shown in Figure 3, with the ligature applied.

In the embodiment here illustrated, particularly in Figure 1, I have shown my improved form of applicator as being in conjunction with the handle of a common tooth brush, this being a preferred type of the instrument, and resides specifically in forming the free end of the handle portion 1. of the brush with a right angularly disposed U-shaped extension 2, theprongs of which are preferably somewhat arcuate in shape as viewed from the front elevation thereof and with their termini spaced at distance apart for readily straddling the space intermediate of the teeth in the average human mouth. The inner edges ofthe prongs I prefer to form of protruding .l-shape as at 3 with the apexes thereof directly opposed so as to readily fit intermediate-of theteeth without necessarily engaging same.

.About each circumferential face of the prongs and in theupp'ermost termini thereof is formed a V-shaped channel 4 for the reception of the-ligature 5 which I prefer to be of and consider as novel a small rubber elastic band.

- Upon the under side and back of the handle of the instrument and just inwardly of the tGllllllll of the V-shaped channels t is formed a small button or knob 6, either integral with the handle, which is usually composed of a r composition such as celluloid or the like,or attached thereto. Spaced therefrom 'inwardly upon the handle and preferably adjacent the opposite end is a like button or knob 7 so that when placing the ligature or rubber-band transverse the prongs of the instrument and about same the bandmay be brought around on opposite sides of the knob or button 6, and thence drawn taut to and about the button 7. when the instrument is reac y for use and the band thus held firmly for the purpose desired.

IVhile I have shown the instrument as forming a part of the handle of a tooth brush, it is apparentthatit may be independently of same, and function equally as well, and that the ligature employed may be any of.

the well known brands in lieu of the rubber elastic above described.

7 Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent-,- 1s

An instrument of the class described comprising a handle, a U-shaped extension on and at right angles to one end of. 831d handle,

channels about the sides and termini of the I extens1on, a button atthe baseof the exten- ALANSON T. S. YATES. 

